Earth scoop and elevator.



E. J. AKINS. EARTH SCOOP AND ELEVATOR. APPLICATION FILED JULY 1, 1912.

1, 1 04,03 1 Patented July 21, 1914-.

i F? g. I

O O i 4 0 IN ENTDR\ Wi'NEESES:

ATTDRNEY.

1:4: NORRIS PETERS co. WASHINGTON, u. c.

outrun STATES Parana onnion.

EDWIN J. AKINS, OF MOUNDSVILLE, WEST VIRGINIA.

' EARTH SCOOP AND ELEVATOR.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, EDWIN J. AKINS, a citizen of the United States of America, and resident of Moundsville, county of Marshall and State of est Virginia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Earth Scoops and Elevators, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates broadly to earth elevating mechanism, and specifically to an earth scoop and loading device.

The primary object of the invention is to provide an earth scoop and elevator for use in connection with traction road building machines.

A further object, is to provide an earth loading elevator embodying a plurality of elevating buckets which are actuated to travel in the same direction as that of the machine to which it is attached in a tltllling position and by which it is driven.

And a further object is to provide an earth loading device of the inclined elevator type having means by which its lower end may be positively adjusted for regulating the depth or level at or on which the buckets shall operate for lifting earth, and also having means whereby its upper end may be adjusted for regulating the inclination to be assumed.

Vith these and other objects in view, the invention resides in the features of construction, arrangement of arts and combinations of elements which will hereinafter be fullydescribed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which- Figure 1 is a side elevation of the invention, one end of the drive-shaft'being in section and one of the supporting members for said shaft being broken away; and Fig. 2 is a top plan view'of the invention.

Referring to said drawings, in which like designating characters distinguish like parts throughout the several views-4 indicates a .horizontally-disposed drive-shaft having its ends journaled in the outer ends of supporting members '2 whose opposlte ends are loosely mounted on the axle, or outer axle casing, 3 of a self-propelled road building machine, designated generally by the numeral 4. The motive power for said machine is suitably communicated from the engine to a transverse shaft 5 which carries pinions 6 in mesh with spur-gears 7 rigidly carried by the traction wheels .8. Said trac- Specifieation of Letters Patent.

Application filed July 1, 1912.

Patented July 21, 1914.

Serial No. 706,942.

tion wheels are rotatably mounted on the outer ends of the axl easing 3 which carries a differential gear casing 9. The differential gear carried by the casing 9 is driven from the engine in any suitable manner, as

by a chain 10, for communicating motion to floating shafts 11 operating within the axle casings 3 and having their outer ends projected outward from said casings.

Mounted on the projecting ends of the floating shafts 11 are sprocket wheels 12 connected by sprocket chains 13 to sprocket wheels 14 fixed on the drive-shaft 1. Thus, as is apparent, motion communicated to the floating shafts through the difierential gear is communicated through the intermediate mechanism to the drive-shaft 1.

Mounted upon said drive-shaft {are the lower ends of a pair of upwardly inclined parallel bars 15 which constitute the frame of an elevator and which have journale d in.

their upper ends a shaft 16. Sprocket wheels 17 carried by the shaft 1 are con.- nected by sprocket chains 18 to similar sprocket wheels 19 carried by the shaft 16, and carried by said'chains so as to travel therewith is a plurality of elevating buckets 20 which are adapted to be successively moved to scraping position with respect to O the ground for scooping up loose earth, after which they travel upward along the inclined path and dump their contents as they are carried Over the shaft 16. A cart, truck, or

other vehicle, is suitably connected to the road building machine, as by connecting bars 21 leading from the vehicle to a fixed part of the machine, whereby said truck is caused to trail behind the vehicle at a point for receiving the earth as itis dumped from the buckets 20.

Inclined rods 22 are connected at one end to the supporting members or bars 2 and have their upper. ends adjust-ably held in fixed parts of the road machine, as in bracemembers 23 whereby the elevation of the outer ends of said bars 2 may be adjusted for positively maintaining the lower end of the elevator at a desired level for causing the buckets to scoopup earth at a certain desired depth.

Suitable mechanism is provided whereby the inclination of the elevating mechanism may be adjusted, the adjusting mechanism illustrated comprisingchains or cables 24 connected to the upper ends of the bars 15 and wound upon a shaft or drum 25 which has its opposite ends journaled in a suitable support, as in the upper ends of said brace members 23. A hand wheel 26 is mounted on said shaft 25 whereby the latter may be rotated for winding and unwinding the chains or cables 24 pawl 28 are preferably employed on said shaft for maintaining said shaft against rotation in a reverse direction from adjusted position.

It will be obvious from the foregoing that I provide an extremely simple and eflicient trailing elevating device wherein the elevat ing mechanism is driven independent of the traction wheels and wherein the elevating buckets travel in the same direction as the traction vehicle. It will further be noted that the elevating mechanism may be elevated above the ground to an inoperative position, as when it is desired to move to a new location, and that in such case the driving mechanism for the elevator may remain at rest while the traction vehicle travels @ither forward or backward. And still further, it will be noted that the elevator mechanism may be operated while the traction vehicle remains stationary.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In combination, the hollow axle of a t-"action vehicle, said axle having traction wheels rotatable thereon, means for driving said wheels, shafts floating within said axle, means for driving said shafts, supporting members connected to said axle, an elevatordrive shaft journaled in said members, means connecting said shaft to the floating shafts whereby motion imparted to the latter is communicated to the former, an inclined elevator frame supported at its lower end. by said shaft, a companion shaft journaled in the upper end of said frame, a plurality of elevating buckets actuated by rotation of said drive-shaft, means for raising and lowering said supporting members for adjusting the level of said drive-shaft, and

; and a ratchet 27 and said wheels, shafts floating means for adjusting the inclination of said frame, said elevator mechanism being adapted to trail behind the traction vehicle and to have its buckets travel in the same direction as the vehicle.

2. In combination, the hollow axle of a traction vehicle, said axle having traction wheels rotatable thereon, means for driving within said axle, means for driving said shafts, supporting members connected to said axle elevatin 9 b mechanism mounted on said supporting members, said mechanism comprising a drive-shaft ournaled 1n said members, parallel frame members having their lower ends mounted on said shaft, a shaft journaled in the upper ends of said frame members, sprocket wheels mounted on the last mentioned shaft, sprocket wheels mounted on said driveshaft, sprocket chains connect ing said wheels, a plurality of elevating buckets mounted on said chains, and means connecting the drive-shaft to said floating shafts whereby motion imparted to the latter is communicated to the former.

3. In combination, the hollow axle of a traction vehicle, said axle having traction wheels rotatable thereon, means for driving said wheels, shafts floating within said axle, a difierential-gear drive for said shafts,

supporting members connected to said axle,

{elevating mechanism including an endless chain of buckets mounted on said supporting members, and means operatively connecting said elevating mechanism to said floating shafts whereby motion imparted to the latter is communicated to the former for actuating said buckets to travel in a f0rward scooping direction and in trailing rela tion to the vehicle.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

EDWIN J. AKINS. Witnesses H. E. DUNLAP, L. D. -M0nn1s.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents. Washington, I). 0. 

